Locals greet Surigao nickel processing plant opening with caution, excitement CLAVER, Surigao del Norte – Residents of this mining town have greeted with mixed reactions the September 4 inauguration of the Taganito High Pressured Acid Leach (THPAL). THPAL, located in Barangay Taganito, is a joint venture between Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (SMMC). It is currently the largest mining investment in the country’s mining sector at US$1.6 billion. While most locals welcome the jobs and other economic opportunities the processing plant will bring, they also fear its potential health and environmental hazards. By Roel N. Catoto / September 4, 2013 These concerns heightened on July 4, when the facility emitted foul odor that last almost 24 hours. It was learned that the company had conducted a test-run at the facility, but the management said the odor was nontoxic. Residents said the odor was unbearable it caused coughing. Some described the effect as worse than being teargassed. They said the odor was inhaled from the plant site in Barangay Taganito and neihbogring Hayanggabon, Cabugo and Urbiztondo villages. “That incident caused people to panic and the smell truly sucks, it’s like the [smell of] septic tank,” said Taganito Barangay Chair Ruben D. Parpan. “Good thing no one was complaining or landed in the hospital during that incident,” he said. He said THPAL officials explained to him and some councilors the company was at fault for using a wrong mixture of chemicals at the time. He said the firm promptly apologized and promised similar incidents would not happen again. Parpan said Takanori Fujimora, president of Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation had called from Japan to ask for an apology. “He was really asking for apology and assured that incidents like that would never happen again,” he said. Parpan added Fujimora told him the smell was not dangerous. “The foul odor hurt my nose, I felt dizzy. I’d rather have tear gas than that one because it prolongs your suffering,” said Andy Elemanco of Taganito. Bebe Tesado, a mother of eight, said they could not sleep that night because of the obnoxious odor. She said she felt worried listening to her children cry. “Since I was young I have never smelled something like that one and I fear that it would happen again or something worse would happen,” she added. Claver Mayor Eddie P. Gokiangkee also said the incident has caused panic among the locals. But he said no one was contemplating to file charges against the mining firm for the incident. In his letter to Parpan, Fujimora said THPAL US$1.6 billion for the project in Claver which is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons of nickel sulfide and 2600 MT cobalt sulfide each year. The two chemicals will be refined in Japan. Fujimora said their “state-of-the-art equipment” is expected to generate US$378 million (about P15 billion) annually and employ at least 2000 workers. “It is expected to raise taxes for the national government and local government, provide social development expenses under the government’s Social Management Program to the host and surrounding communities at estimated P144 million pesos annually and stimulate local businesses,” Fujimora’s letter said. Fujimora said THPAL has a lifespan of 30 years. The joint venture also owns the Philippines’ first hydrometallurgical nickel processing plant in Palawan. - See more at: phminingweek/locals-greet-surigao-nickel-processing-plant-opening-with-caution-excitement/#sthash.rx1jV9Dm.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:01:11 +0000
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